Generosity inspires additional pledge

T.J. Moran was so moved Sunday by pledges by guests at a dinner celebrating his $1 million donation to Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center that he offered to match those pledges up to another $1 million.

“I never envisioned this as a fundraiser,” Moran said of his initial donation establishing the T.J. Moran Endowment, “but I was so inspired.”

“I’m speechless,” said Todd Stephens, Mary Bird CEO. Moran and board chairwoman Donna Saurage accepted pledges from the 175 or so guests at the “Heart of a Hero” dinner at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse. Totals were still being tallied at press time.

Moran is a 22-year survivor of throat cancer, for which he was treated at Mary Bird.